We've got caddies, yes we do! Starting the season with a hilarious quote

I have so many updates to share that I have to take deep breaths when I think of it all. Life if busy and hectic. I have a few ditties ready to go that I believe I promised you- then funny moments (this, fav quote) or random stuff (Mini's hot feet) crops up and I draft something new. 

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CADDIES ARE US

Rae took caddy training in the spring. When the girls moved in two years ago, the older, seasoned caddies were like - You know those two can never caddy. The girls showed an interest in the $$$ the caddies made. But they were prone to staring, and didn't like to walk down the street let alone around a golf course with a heavy bag on their shoulders. 

Rae'll be attending a small Catholic high school (40 kids/grade) to the tune of Money-I-wish-I-wasn't-spending-on-tuition. She begged to go there. Basically Rae's developed amazing friendships with wonderful young women at her Catholic grade school (13 kids in 8th, 8 girls). She's done well surrounded by kind kids who aren't fighting for popularity and trying to be older or extra hip. It's been refreshing to witness her growth. No need to remind me that this is not the 'real world'. She'll one day need to deal with less than desirable people, but she doesn't have the foundation/self confidence our bio kids got by growing up in a loving home. Our bio gang fared well at public school, knowing who to steer clear of, right from wrong, etc. Rae feels supported and focuses on academics without the pressure of the riff raff that she was drawn to at our junior high. 

We have reservations about this high school - which is a post in and of itself, but we decided it's our best option. Most of her girlfriends are heading there. Bottom line we told her she'd have to earn a chunk of the tuition. Hello, caddying. 

In other excitement:  we (meaning Reg and
 Coach) slid Curly's desk over, so the room
could better accomodate Mini's
 trundle during the summer months. Note
 Mini sitting on her bed while the rest
 of us work (I was manning the
vacuum). Mini:  "Work smarter, not harder."

Despite training weeks ago, we've/she's not been available to caddy until this past weekend. Reg dropped her off early Friday, then Tank, Reg, and Mini caddied later. Seasoned caddies don't need to sit and wait. They often get texts about requested times. Curly had school Friday, but she goes early too, because she's still a B level caddy. She's not been promoted because of her basketball schedule. She's not shown up consistently in the four years since she started. She's frustrated, especially after she caddied in the same group as Rae on Sat. and Sun. 

Curly made $90 Sat and Rae made $100. Curly eye rolled, because she reads putts like an A caddy, chased balls on the forecaddy holes, and she told Rae what to do and where to stand, etc. and then Rae got a better tip. 

Anyway, Rae made $100 Fri, Sat, and Sun! Monday she made $60. Curly wasn't in her group Monday, because she had to study for finals this week. 

See? With a queen bed and a
full size trundle, no space to walk. 

Rae is SO proud. She marches into the house, stuffs her money in a giant envelope and notes the date and amount on the attached lined paper. 

The family therapist and I spoke on Friday about some of Kay's issues (can you guess which of the girls is NOT thriving, behaving responsibly, and is instead exhausting us?). I mentioned Rae was caddying and the therapist was like:

This is gonna be so good for her. I bet she feels more connected to the older kids. It's like a rite of passage, an initiation into being a Shenanigan. 

Me:  Amen

*preface to the quote :  McKenna graduated from our HS between Mini and Reg. She caddies with the kids and played varsity b-ball with Mini. She chats with the kids every summer at the course, but wasn't aware of our adoption plan. 

After caddying on Friday Mini tells us:  So McKenna texted me this morning. She was like SO DID YOU GUYS LIKE ADOPT A CADDY OR SOMETHING? BECAUSE SOME GIRL JUST WALKED INTO THE CADDY SHACK AND INTRODUCED HERSELF AS RAE SHENANIGAN.

GIF from Yarn. McKenna's comment reminded me of this scene in the movie Blindside.

Any funny comments or quotes that made you chuckle recently? Has anyone else ever caddied or know people who caddy? Show of hands, have you seen Blindside? Anyone else have stuff to share, but not enough time in the day to share it in?

I want to go to bed, but first . . . or should I say FEET first & Apostrophe redefined

Tonight (Wednesday) I met my four siblings at a Buffalo Wild Wings.

Fun fact:  I'd never been to BWW, and this one was so underwhelming. Very fast food -ish. To me it was a Burger King with TVs.

We met per my brother Pat's prompting to be proactive in discussing our aging parents, their health concerns, what to do with Mom if Dad passes first. Aside from Alzheimer's, Mom's healthy, and Dad is having  more medical stuff - so probably this will be the situation. Over my dead body will Mom be put in a home, so I offered to move her in with us. First floor study that can be a bedroom, first floor walk in shower. Not sure it will come to that, but I threw the offer out on the table. (no sib has a first floor shower/bedroom combo). 

Ann said she thinks Mom needs a quiet place. Feel free to congratulate me for - Not taking offense. Mike said stimulation could be good for her. Basically, I can stop babysitting whenever. I can care for Mom. We aren't there yet, but for now we're hoping to increase the days the caregiver comes. Caregiver's other patient recently entered hospice. I also have the summer off and can get over there more often. FYI - my folks live walking distance. Maybe we'll end up hiring round the clock care to keep her in her house when Dad passes. That's possible. 

In summary, it was a heavy conversation, but we covered some important stuff. One of our action items is taking Dad's keys. That's gonna be tough, but he should not be driving. 

The lightweight bit:  Dad told Marie that he thinks he needs an apostrophe. Huh? Marie told him what he was asking for was punctuation, could he clarify? 

Dad:  I need one of those things where they send the hose up inside of you . . . 

He was requesting a COLONOSCOPY. 

****

FEET:  Mini went to ND for a few days. Most of her posse (all of whom had been abroad too) met up there. Emily's Mom just bought a house in South Bend, so they all stayed there. The house had a hot tub. They had a blast. Obvi. 

Mini came home Saturday late morning. She complained in the afternoon that her heel hurt. Later, both her feet hurt. The bottoms of her feet. Coach told her she probably had plantar fasciitis. (in my brain:  sudden onset plantar fasciitis?)

2017 when her feet worked better. 

Sunday (Mother's Day) Coach and I left drove to Curly's local tournament. The rest of the gang showed up at tip off. Reg was head shaking and eye rolling, as in something's off. 

Mini had to crawl downstairs. Her foot pain was so bad. She hobbled around all day, saying she was so uncomfortable. Coach told her to do stretches. Curly was like What is wrong with you? I've had that and I didn't complain that much. 

We played volleyball in the yard after dinner. Mini could hit the ball if it came to her, refusing to move her sore feet. Curly stared calling her T-Rex, because she was walking so dino-like. After volleyball we watched the new Vince Vaughan movie, Nona's. It was cute. 

Mini and I were on the couch. I looked at her feet. Parts of them appeared red and puffy. 

Me:  I don't think you get red and puffy from plantar fash-whatever. 

Monday morning, me:  100% you got something from that hot tub. Text in the group chat and see how other people's feet are.

Mini:  What? You're crazy. No way am I doing that. (she didn't want to imply Yo, Emily - your hot tub sucks and I've been maimed by sitting in there). 

I was heading downstairs after my shower and Mini started shout-laughing:

MOM! MOM! ANGIE'S FEET HURT TOO!

When will my medial certificate arrive in the mail? There were three kids who sat in the hot tub BOTH Thurs and Fri nights. Mini was one of them. The other friends dodged the bacteria by only dipping in Fri night. 

When Mini refused to do the group chat, she reached out to Angie on the side. Angie's response: What? Yes! I want to amputate my feet. 

Mini texted the other friend. Same! Angie went to urgent care after driving home to Philadelphia. They gave her a steroid, claiming her pain was from inactivity. Um, long drive - but C'MON. 

The doc gave Mini strong painkillers, antibiotic cream, and told her to ice. Hot Foot Syndrome:  usually only happens to young children. Thankfully it was cleared up by the time we left for Omaha. 

Just another day in the life. I can't make this stuff up. I referenced Mini's pain in my grad outfit post. I told you it was a funny story. 

******

Ever heard of Hot Foot Syndrome? Do you frequent Buffalo Wild Wings? Any wild diagnoses from urgent care? 

He's BACK . . . well, almost (a wardrobe plot twist & a rare fam photo - which I'll take down soon)

A rare family photo, minus Curly, Rae, and Kay. 

Mini, Reg, Coach, Tank, me, Ed, and Lad.

Where did this outfit come from? Well, in the hectic pace of life, I failed to re-check the Omaha weather. 

Hectic:  

• Wednesday shoe shopping for Rae's 8th grade graduation. Remember:  club feet, so challenging. The saleslady: "I feel like those are too old for her." Referring to a pair of Clarks sandals. 

What now? So frustrating. They weren't old lady sandals. Rae has a crazy high instep. Her one foot is deformed. It's hard enough to find shoes, but to have a salesperson steer us away from a pair, fearing that they aren't hip? That irked me. Rae was fine with them. They were simple, had a few straps. The store didn't have either of the two sizes we needed anyway. 

• Thursday:  8th grade awards. 

Anyway, I'd looked earlier in the week, but I was unaware that there were crazy high winds on Friday. The temps weren't gonna get up to 70 until late afternoon Saturday. At the mass Friday evening, I wore the long cream colored sundress with the black floral pattern on it. With a jeans jacket. We were chilly as the mass was in the baseball stadium. When we got back to the hotel, I changed into Mini's jeans to go to the bars. After thinking, "Pack a pair of jeans!" while in the shower Friday morning, I forgot.

Four sons and Coach walking back to the hotel after the ceremony.

We're not in this photo, but this was a grad parties. This one was on a rooftop bar.

 

The ceremony was at 10 am, and it was so cold. I didn't want to freeze my butt off all day. Plus I saw lots of people wearing blue at Embassy Suites' breakfast. I decided to wear the warmer, blue outfit.  

Afterward, we went to lunch as a family at an amazing Mexican place. We were sitting on the patio and I was sweating. Guess who ran out to the minivan and changed into the black sundress (in the car)? Yep, I threw it in the car in case it got warm enough. It ended up being such a pretty day. Wardrobe change. 

Loading up the minivan. Tank had food in the freezer that he wanted to bring home, so we stuffed it in his fridge with a bag of ice. Space was at a premium. 

My living room's new look:  college dumping ground. 

Reg moved his stuff back from Indiana recently. Tank's stuff came home with us - he's getting a ride back later today. Plus there was a moving sale, where stuff was free. I couldn't pass it up even though I was hosting Easter the next day. Suffice it to say, my garage, the Irish dancing stage in the basement, and the living room have been overtaken. And? I couldn't care less. I'm so excited to have Tank home. He plans to move into the city July 1st -ish, which is sort of a bummer - but this next chapter is gonna be great.

The commencement speaker, Carolyn Woo:  phenomenal. Her relatable message:  if life takes you on a path that's different than what you planned, don't despair. Things might be better. She invited the grads to think back on situations that were challenging, and to realize that they persevered. They were resilient. Tank is a prime example of resilience after all that he's been through. She also urged everyone to do 4 things:  help others, keep your faith, never stop learning, and break boards (refers to a story she told about taekwondo). If I find her speech on YouTube someday, I'll share the link. 

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A graduation speech that resonated with you? Have you encountered a salesperson who weighed in with unsolicited fashion advice geared at your kid? Anyone else have a 'college dumping ground' room/space in your house? 

 

Wacky Wednesday wardrobe weigh-in: possible graduation attire (less than the Italy trip options)

Tank is graduating this weekend. So exciting! Help me pack, please. I need two outfits. Friday night is a baccalaureate mass, and my guess is we'll go to bars afterwards. Saturday the graduation is at 10 am. His group of friends and their families are celebrating at a country club.

Keep in mind we're having a family portrait done this summer. Thoughts on whether or not I wear one of these in the photo. No color scheme has been determined, but I assume I'll do something NOT busy - eliminating option A right away.

Mini had an injury - nothing serious. She's on the mend and the story is honestly hysterical. More later (after I share video of my dad's b-day singing). But this is what Mini "Get me my ice. Wait, I dropped something. Don't make me move." and I did during daycare naptime on Tuesday, so trust that no tots were overly ignored in the making of this fashion post. 

A. What I planned to wear to the graduation all along. I even bought these pink Mephisto sandals in Florence to match. Then I got home and tried it on (I've gained a few lbs since I wore it 8/1023 for our anniversary) to see how it fit. I don't remember it being this short. Should I opt for something less short? I can wear a jean jacket with it to tone it down a tad. It's sort of busy, but fun. Creighton's color is blue. Go Jays!

B. Mini likes this for Friday (I'd probably do black shoes - not that pink looks wrong, but my feet will get angry if I wear brand new shoes twice without rotating something else in). I do love this dress. Easy to throw a jean jacket on and go to the bars.

C. I DO NOT OWN THIS NAVY SWIRLY-ON-TOP DRESS, SHOULD I BUY IT? I tried this on in a fancy-pants boutique the next town over on Mother's Day with Curly and Mini. It's a size XS. I felt like it didn't really do much for me. *Maybe nothing can do much for me, since my waist has decided to stop indenting. I probably needed a size bigger. Plus, it wasn't on sale. It wasn't cheap, but it wasn't ridiculous. Too early in the season for the boutique to offer sales racks. I can make like the Terminator and say I'll Be Back. If you scroll down, you'll see that I own dresses. Do I need this one? Now that I'm looking back at this pic, I kinda like the dress. Ugh.

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Everything below this line is on the Hmm? or the Reject list. But a few things are contenders, like maybe D? Multi colored light-weight dress . . .

NWT:  new with tags. I bought it a few years ago. I feel like it's classic and won't go out of style. It's too dressy for the graduation. Maybe if my nieces or nephews start getting married. Maybe family portrait? Not sure I love the neckline for family portrait.

D. Multi colored, light-weight dress:  I think I wore this to Tank's high school graduation. (I don't think that matters/won't deter me from wearing it again). I love this dress. I wore it when Curly danced at Nationals in Vancouver. Maybe I wear this to the Friday night mass, because it would be easy to throw on a jean jacket and hit the bars. 

Floral black and white:  I love this dress. I think I wore it for Curly's First Communion in '16. I wore it in our last family portrait. Thus:  time to update the family portrait. 

Why does this outfit look like I'm from the movie Big and I've just grown up, but am still wearing clothes from my childhood? It seemed like it'd be a cute outfit, but EEK. I just bought the shirt. I think I need to pair it with pants/bottoms that are less fitted. 

This is a bit better, but still. Not sure I like it enough to pack it. 

Long sundress:  Mini and I will share this gem that we bought, well I bought-Monday night. It was on sale, but we'll be watching to see if it gets marked down further before we cut any tags off. Maybe Curly will wear it too, if she ever dresses up. I do like this. It has pockets. The black shoes look wrong. I'd do my cream sandals (see below). 

Shirt dress:  cute, navy - but how did I never notice how short this is on me? I've had this for a few years, and I don't think it'll make the final cut. 

Love this brown sundress. I wore it to Reg's grad party last year. It's neutral. Maybe family portrait? 

Next graduation? Mini liked this and she says she will wear it too. She thinks I should/could wear it to her ND graduation because green. A little far off to wardrobe plan for that, but it was 75% off. It's a little tight for me in the upper torso. Note I'm not saying I'm too chesty for it (I'm not too chesty for anything), but apparently I'm stocky across my back? Maybe I'm muscular there, that sounds better.

Are you or your people good at scheduling regular family portraits? Do you shop for a dress a year in advance of an event? Please share your thoughts on my top few outfits. Do you vote that I reconsider one that isn't on my top list? Should I buy that navy swirl-on-top dress from the boutique? (Don't worry, I won't tell Coach it was you who sent me). 

An 85th bday and an ode to Nana: SHORTEST POST EVER, featuring rare video footage

An 85th Birthday Sing-Song

My dad turned 85 on Wednesday. Mini and I brought the 6 tots/babies over to sing to him. It was a beautiful day. It would've been hard for me to get them there solo, but I'd probably have still done it. If I didn't have her along. 

If I was solo:  I would've utilized the buggy, squeezing two babies in semi-comfortably. The buggy is easy to push, unlike the quad stroller that's earned the nickname The Beast. Steering is a fight that I usually lose. I would've invited as many kids (probably 3) into the wagon. The remaining guy would've walked and complained about it until I squeezed him in somewhere. I'd have been the pushing/pulling Sherpa, who decided midway to my folks' house that I'd over-estimated:  1. my abilities, 2. the time it would take to get there, and 3. the tots' interest in the mission. 

If you've not met me in person, this is who I am. I feel like the above situation translates into various other scenarios in my life. 

Dad is immunocompromised, so going to a restaurant wasn't ideal. My mom's younger sister (79 years, standing near me in the video) brought lunch to them. I arranged our visit knowing she'd be there. Aunt Moe is a lover of babies. She's also hilarious. 

When I was a kid, Mom and Aunt Moe would perform a duet at our family parties. Explaining how they'd sing for their parents' friends whenever they entertained. I doubt there's video footage of them singing Our Lady of Fatima back when their knees worked and they took a knee. 

Dad was just getting out of the shower when we arrived, so Aunt Moe and Nana worked the room. I happened to have my phone at the ready, so I recorded them in action. I'll maybe take down this rare footage soon-ish, since I don't like to show identifying stuff on the internet. I'm thinking you'd enjoy this peek into my life.

*****

Do/did you/your parents/relatives have any hidden talents or funny moments they shared at family gatherings?  (I was gonna share the story of how I got Nana a haircut, but two stories in one post made for a long post. So now, you've got that to look forward to later in the week). 

some Italy anecdotes: the 'we don't always travel well' edition

Our first morning in Rome, Coach had arranged for us to take a train to Pompeii. My dad, the world's biggest history buff, considered it a must-see highlight, so Mini requested we visit the ruins with her. 

It really was remarkable that this city
 was covered in ash and
 lava and discovered
hundreds of years later. Cool to see, but
 I admit that I do not share my dad's
 history obsession. Perhaps
 because practically
 every vacation of my childhood was
 force fed history lessons in
 one shape or another. 

Our hotel was great. So comfortable. My friend, Delilah recommended it. We were pleasantly surprised that Mini had a small half bath in her room. Her bedroom was connected by a short hall to our room and full bath. Breakfast was included, but Coach insisted on allowing enough time for us to get to the train station so that we could grow old and be sufficiently hungry and dream about the missed breakfast. 

* Understand, this was our first morning, so I had no expectations. I pack my GF oatmeal and a bowl deep enough to cook it in a microwave. So not being able to make that was not ideal. But, Coach took the time to organize our trip and I rolled with it. 

We took a cab to the train station, because I was not willing to sacrifice more sleep in order to try to figure out the bus system again. Our hotel was about a 6 minute taxi ride to the station. Coach wasn't sure how challenging it would be to find our train, so we arrived approx. 40 minutes early. Anyone who knows me IRL will understand - early is a departure for me. We were so early our track wasn't yet listed on the schedule board. 

Mini and I poked around the station in search of breakfast, while Coach stared at the overhead schedule awaiting our assigned track. She and Coach could have a pastry, or anything. Me? I found nothing. We surrendered and landed at McDonalds, waiting forever to get the sandwiches (for my gluten eating companions) and plain eggs for me. I was relieved to eat something. 

We took a long train ride before catching a bus to Pompeii. Mini suspected there was another way to get to Pompeii - staying on the train seemed more sensible. Coach had done his research and his nose was out of joint when I asked if it maybe made more sense to go Mini's suggested route. 'I-organized-this-trip' feathers were ruffled, which made for a less than ideal Pompeii experience. Coach's feathers, once ruffled, do not smooth easily.

After the train, we raced to where the bus was supposed to pick us up. I had to pee. Understatement. The bus wasn't there. I deiced to find a bathroom - "Hold the bus for me." Coach was nervous that we'd miss the bus, so he told me to be back in 5 minutes. Need I paint you a picture of me with a full bladder all out running (after I asked a worker where the toilets were) up an escalator, taking the stairs two at a time, then .5 miles down the no-joke, longest corridor?

Who designs a train station with one bathroom all.the.way.at.one.end of a mile long building? I panicked and aborted my mission. I returned to Coach and Mini, where we continued to wait for maybe 15 minutes before I said, That's it. I have got to pee. If this bus is this late, they can wait for me. I'm not giving up this time.

Then I asked the same guy, admitting I'd not been successful the first time. He motioned and told me All the way - you have to go all the way to the end. 

He wasn't kidding. I suspect I crossed the border into Switzerland to find the bathroom. When I returned, the bus had arrived. Coach had bought tickets in advance for this bus, but he couldn't find them on his phone. The bus driver spent several minutes waiting, showing Coach the app, while Coach kept assuring him he bought them, and trying to find where his phone saved them. Finally the driver let us on without checking our tickets. Coach found them later, but we were in our seats and no one cared anymore. 

This is how we travel. It isn't always pretty. And this is days before one of us puked her guts out and shit her pants. 

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Are you drawn to historic sights? Does your phone hide downloaded or saved tickets too? If you plan it, does that mean no one better question it? Asking for a friend. Oh, and longest you've had to race to locate a bathroom (In a public place like a train station no less - still boggles the mind). 

why the bloody feet (no gross photos), plus Italy story foreshadowing

the bloody feet:  In case you didn't see my response, Kyria this is for you . . . Kyria said she needed to know why Curly's feet were bloodied during basketball. 

Curly realized Sun.  
that the socks she
 packed were old/thin.
Me:  YOU'RE NOT
WEARING THOSE.
 I lent her a pair of cushie
Bombas, which she wore
  under her thin socks. Her feet
 didn't bleed. (she only
 played 2 games/day.
 - unlike the 4 games
 a day when they
 bled). Still - how timely? She
 was asleep in the car
 without her shoes
 on, and I was driving.
 I wanted to take
 a pic, but safety first.
So this is in the
 kitchen when we
were safely home
 and she ran off to study for
 her AP test tomorrow. 

Well, her feet are messed up due to her stupid love of Irish dancing. She has bunions (I guess? maybe?) or just feet that are misshapen. Like the bones maybe shifted around enough that the fatty parts aren't really all that protective anymore - or the padding is thinned out? I'm talking out of my ass, and no - I didn't consult my PT husband, why do you ask? You think he knows stuff? Probably does. I'm telling you what I think happened from my unofficial, nonmedical viewpoint. When she plays in lots of back to back games, she gets blisters or calluses that are hard as rock and maybe 3 or 4 inches across no matter what socks or shoes or tape, etc. she wears. If she plays in multiple games eventually they bleed. 

When Reg played in the Under Armor circuit for travel ball, he and I drove to Atlanta (July '22?). Remember? A kid a few years older than Reg went to our high school and played for the same AU team as Reg. He lived down the street. Reg and I watched him play in Atlanta. His dad told me that his son had packed old, threadbare socks and was wearing new shoes. His feet were badly blistered. He was a mess. This was the tournie all the college coaches were attending, and his kid (who is now a high level D1 player) could barely walk. 

Me:  Um, I can reach out to Curly and ask her what stuff you should get. She knows blisters from Irish dancing.

7th grade Curly to the rescue. Curly texted me what to do, and I forwarded it to the dad. The dad texted me photos of his son's blisters, which I forwarded to Curly (while trying not to look at them). Curly told him which parts to cut off and which to drain, etc. I was the go between. The dad overnighted stuff from Amazon, etc. The whole thing just slayed me. But when your kid knows feet - you step in. (get it)

*******

I'm drafting this from Appleton, Wisconsin. Travel b-ball. Sunday morning I ran and then ate breakfast alone so that I didn't wake up sleeping beauty. Curly hangs with friends in the hotel till late at night, and then she sleeps in. 

The breakfast wasn't a complimentary buffet - it was in the restaurant, but was included in our program's hotel deal. Curly said she'd skip the hotel breakfast to go out to eat with her team. Huh?

The parents were confused about breakfast being included. (most people stayed at the hotel Fri night - including Curly. I came up later Sat. after the 1st Communion. People were wrongly charged for breakfast Sat morning, but got their money back when I pointed out that it was part of the deal).

Me (to Curly Sun morning):  It IS included and you'll be eating here. 

She joined her friends when they opted to eat out, but she didn't order anything. Travel sports is pricey and the mother who brings her own cooler of food is the mother who saves some money. We're not skipping included food. (plus the food was great - last weekend's hotel food was gross). 

This reminds me of an Italy story . . . I guess the Italy stories will just trickle in as a mixture with current Shenanigan affairs, if that's OK. And if it isn't? Speak to the management.